Read a full match report of the League Two play-off semi-final between Crew
Alexandra and Southend United at Gresty Road on Saturday May 12 2012.

They might have finished the campaign 11 points adrift of Southend United, yet that did not prevent Crewe Alexandra claiming the advantage at the midway point of their League Two play-off semi-final as they extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

Adam Dugdale scored with a second-half header for Steve Davis' team, who are now within touching distance of a first play-off final since beating Brentford in the Second Division in 1997.

The Railwaymen have avoided defeat since losing to the Shrimpers on February 18 and, should they extend that sequence in Wednesday's return leg at Roots Hall, they can look forward to facing Cheltenham Town or Torquay United at Wembley on May 27.

Having had to settle for fourth place after missing out on automatic promotion by a point last weekend, it was another frustrating day for Paul Sturrock's side, yet they will still view the tie as very much retrievable.

It took 23 minutes for the first presentable opportunity to arrive and Nick Powell, the latest jewel to emerge from Crewe's famed conveyor belt of talent, was at the heart of it.

The 18-year-old, who can count Manchester United and Everton among his admirers, whipped a devilish delivery towards goal, the onrushing Matt Tootle strained every sinew in vain to apply the decisive touch before Cameron Belford, the Shrimpers goalkeeper, punched to safety.

Powell already has 15 goals this season but he should have done better when he failed to direct an Ashley Westwood set-piece goalwards, however an even better chance went to waste at the opposite end as the interval approached when Kane Ferdinand headed Ryan Hall's cross over.

It proved a key moment as within four minutes of the restart the Railwaymen took the lead when Dugdale rose highest at the back post to head Westwood's free-kick high into the far corner.

It could have been worse but for Belford's heroics to deny Ajay Leitch-Smith from Powell's flick-on, however Alexandra goalkeeper Steve Phillips saved well from Michael Timlin and Hall late on.